And Gait Barrows, Hutton Roof and Farleton, Leighton Moss,Arnside Knott and everywhere else as well. Here is my blog of records, Articles, Sketches, Poems and photographs which I would love to share with you. In the main my blog refers to Nature subjects within this most beautiful North Lancs/Cumbria areas, but may from time to time also include out of the area stuff, including the most beautiful GOA (India). Life is for living and loving...

Saturday, 28 August 2010

Visible Bird Migration Records - Autumn 2010

Sat Nov 13th 2010 - Hutton
Roof, Cumbria.

0730-0930hrs

Wind: SW 5-8mph

Chaffinch: 108 (39NE all others
SW)

Greenfinch: 12SW (best 9)

Woodpigeon: 5SW

Fieldfare: 35N (13,22)

Redwing: 3SW

Starling: 10W (best 6)

Siskin: 2SW

Greylag Goose: 2SW (0854hrs)

Twite: 1SW

Meadow Pipit: 1SW

Goldfinch: 1SW.

Wednesday November 10th 2010
- Hutton Roof Cumbria.

0630hrs-0930hrs

Wind: NW 3mph, very cold. In
the Main blue skies to 85% with 15% Cloud

Its been really quiet here this
morning, although there was a large fall of Blackbirds during the night because
I had score parties on just this side of Hutton Roof which must have counted 60
plus (at least).

Also had two Woodcock on way up, one caught in side of road
just past Rowley Copse and then another flew past me only yards further on. The
must have come in on last nights full moon.

Sat Nov 6th 2010 - Hutton
Roof, Cumbria.

0700hrs - 1100hrs

Wind: Light Westerley 5mph.

Nice Bullfinch party (which
such similarities to Siskin flight calls!!), Some other passerines with unusual
calls - need to listen to my cd's. Waxwings Moving with Starling ex roost
party, I clearly heard their drawn out "trilling" has they went past.
And Whoopers! Missed lots of finches including: Brambling, Siskin and Redpoll
together with Greenfinch and Chaffinch which I could hear clearly were in
parties, but too high to find.

Starlings: 94W (starting coming
through at 1000hrs 60W,14W,20W) also had well over 20,000 came over ex roost
this morning split into large parties East over a period of one hour. Also with
one close party had trilling birds which could well have been Waxwing.

Bullfinch: 6 NE (a good record
for here).

Mistle Thrush: 1W

Brambling: 4 W (2,2)

Whooper Swan: 6 SW (One party
0905hrs)

Jackdaw: 13 (9SW,4E) looked
like movers, but difficult, we have hundreds of Jacks here all the time.

Fieldfare: 230SW (3 parties:
80,50,100) could well have been more, but again constantly getting blown back
and giving up in the end to come down and feed up.

Redwing: 20SW (in
5s,4s,3s,2s,1s)

Chaffinch: 88 (86SW 2NE)
best:5's 6's)

Raven: 2S

Siskin: 2SW

Greenfinch: 2SW

Goldfinch: 2SW

Meadow Pipit: 1S

Wednesday November 3rd 2010
- Hutton Roof, Cumbria.

0645hrs - 0900hrs

Wind: SW 20mph

Wind far too strong and blowing
thrushes down, and they were then using the low cuttings and going around
Hutton Roof to all its valley cuttings.

After Mondays effort, very
little on Greenfinch today. Realizing why we are not getting much stuff going
East and I think it is simply because the winds are so strong coming from the W
that birds will be flying high and simply missing them. (just like the Starlings
coming from ex roost to the E)

Fieldfare: 487W (14 parties:
most parties averaging 30 or 40s).

Redwing: 21W or SW (3s,4s or
5s)

Siskin: 2SW

LBBG: 130 SE (one party 100 and
one 30 - probably ex roost from W)

Woodpigeon: 2W

Greenfinch: 7W (3,2,2)

Chaffinch: 123 (1E)

Tuesday Nov 2nd 2010 -
Hutton Roof, Cumbria.

0700hrs-0730hrs

Wind: W 25-35mph

Fine for 30mins and then heavy
rain.

Chaffinch still coming through
strong even against the wind. Even the Crow/Jackdaw ex roost where flattened
and literally using all gullies and troughs and probably only inches from the
ground as they went W into the wind. Had to retire early because of not only
strong winds but also heavy rains.

Blackbird: 2

Chaffinch: 32W (best 10)

Redwing: 3W

Fieldfare: 11SW (one party 10).

PS: My thanks to Chris Taylforth
and Dave the Gardener for kindly monitoring any Fieldfare build up in the upper
Lyth Valley.

Monday November 1st 2010 -
Hutton Roof, Cumbria.

0645hrs - 1100hrs

Wind: E 4-5mph increasing and
changing to W

Greenfinch making strong
inroads today.

Fieldfare: 213 (all directions
W,SW,N,NE) best: 70,37,40 etc (parties seen to come in and drop down to Hutton
to feed, no hurry!

Redwing: 41 (either SE or SW)
best 20,11)

Woodpigeon: 116 (3 parties all
S or SE coming down that Lune Valley and crossing over to Yorkshire on a SE, it
does involve hundreds, probably thousands of birds, but today was again one of
the "clag East side days" when I could only pick up the odd party.
But there are always hundreds moving at first light on this SE routing. These
birds would probably end up to the East Side of Ingleborough and be somewhere
in West Yorkshire.

Chris over at The Crag, Nr
Crook informs me that yesterday all the current Fieldfare and other Thrushes
had moved on from "The Crag" and after a drive and walk in the upper
Lyth Valley it looked as though it was currently devoid of migrants.

Chaffinch: 160 (9E all others
West) - noticeable change in the past two days where the greater has swung with
birds to W/SW (rather than E)

Yellowhammer: 1SW

Brambling: 3SW (2,1)

Redpoll: 2SW

Linnet: 2SW

Siskin: 5SW (2,2,1)

Greenfinch: 9 (2,2,1,1,2,1)

Goldfinch: 3SW

Meadow Pipit: 7 (2,2,2,1)

Woodpigeon: 54 - (just the one
party SW)

Great Spotted Woodpecker: 1SW

Skylark: 2W

Starlings, thousands ex roost
and probably others.

Friday October 29th 2010 -
Hutton Roof, Cumbria.

0730hrs-0945hrs.

Wind: South 25-35mph

Extreme wind and freshening,
the majority of the birds (thrushes) did manage to cut to the West, odd parties
where coming down to rest and then setting off again with difficulty and at
times looking like "confetti" by being blown to all directions. The
nearby shooting party never help either by only adding to what looked like
"great confusion".

Fieldfare: 552W (19 parties -
best: 40,60,60,150,100,30)

Redwing: 79SW (9 parties - best
30,20)

Greenfinch: 10W (all pairs or
singles)

Chaffinch: 72 SW (all South
West - best 9,6,5)

Blackbird: 1 SW

Sparrowhawk: 1

Starling: thousands ex roost
and tumbling at high speed to the East.

Skylark: 1SW

Siskin: 1SW

Goldfinch: 2

Redpoll2.

Thr Oct 28th 2010 - Hutton
Roof, Cumbria.

0730hrs - 0945hrs.

Wind: SW 10-12mph

Redwing: 131 all South West
(lots of small parties but best: 30,17,14,20)

Fieldfare: 539 some South West
but mainly North West. (best: 70,60,18,40,50,80)

Woodpigeon: 570 all South (On
most clear mornings you can see this movement coming far away as though above
the Sedbergh/Middleton Fell/Barbon Low Fell and onward S - the high ground to
the East of the Lune Valley, but far back) Sadly the weather usually to my East
is generally poor and so these can only be seen on certain days.

Chaffinch: 85 (40 West 45 East)

Greenfinch: 5 (4W)

Meadow Pipit: 1

Siskin: 2SE

Goldfinch: 3 SW

Yellowhammer: 1W

Redpoll: 2W

Wednesday October 27th 2010
- Hutton Roof, Cumbria.

0730hrs-1000hrs

Wind: SW 15-25mph

Wind too strong today for good
passage, it flattened most stuff, although there was a regular but small
passage all flattened to within 20 metre and using cuttings etc. Since
yesterday it has become quite noticeable that we are getting another surge of
Redwing coming through again in small parties (max 30 at present) but without
doubt it is happening, so whether these are Icelantic making a show or just
late (scandics/baltics) I dont know.

Redwing: 246 (all South West to
West) (best: 30,20,20,20,20,15,14, lots of 5-10 parties)

Fieldfare: 748 (all struggling
but trying to go NW but getting blown all over the place (20 parties: best:
80,50,50,50,40,100,50)

Chaffinch: 78 (42W others East)

Mistle Thrush: 1

Greenfinch: 3W

Starling: several small parties
W

Goldfinch: 3W

Meadow Pipit: 4SE

Siskin: 2W

Blackbird: 1SW

at 1000hrs: I left and headed
up to Crook to check out the Fieldfare hold up, because Dave had told me this
morning, there was still plenty there (thousands) again yesterday. The area
called:Low Crag and High Crag, a small valley area with Chapel Beck running
through it at its base. The nearest village is Crook ( which is approx 7 miles
from Bowness On Windermere). Sadly I had obviously just missed them, although
there where still a few hundred mixed thrushes present on my arrival, but they
were restless and fidgeting before very soon taking off and heading further
North or North West. However it did give me chance to check out the place.
There is plenty of berry food in the area (mainly hawthorn and a few yews), but
not massive quantities, like you get on say Hutton Roof. Although its was quite
obvious that lots of berry stripping had took place in recent days, it was only
on the outer part of the branches, there where still plenty of berries
available. I automatically expected the area to be totally devoid of berries
after such a high density of birds!

Tuesday October 26th 2010 -
Hutton Roof, Cumbria.

0730hrs - 0815hours

Wind: SW15-20mph.

Raining, heavy and light and
cold.

Redwing: 65 all W (best
30W,2,2,,20SW,11SE)

Fieldfare: 33
(3S,2S,2E,11S,15SE)

Chaffinch: 33 (20W 13E (best 5s
& 4s)

Mistle Thrush: 1

Starlings: Thousands ex roost.

Some fantastic information just come in. Whilst on Hutton this morning I met up
with Dave the gardener who himself is keen on birds and travels the area each
day to his work. He usually reports to me every morning if he has seen anything
interesting the day before, a guy who knows his birds and been very interested
in migration.

He was telling me that yesterday whilst working at the place called
Crook/Underbarrow (Head of the Lyth Valley), he noticed from his clients
dwelling that the fields nearby where literally covered with thousands
(possibly up to ten or more) of Fieldfare in all the fields and trees
supporting the nearby valley, everything was covered with birds and little room
between them.

So this is probably confirming a little bit more of a "ancient
routing" I have always suspected. Years ago when I used to watch from
"Sandside" (Milnthorpe), I used to see Fieldfare going over Storth
and eventually what looked like making their way up the "Lyth
Valley". And this new information now seems to support that this may well
be the case....

Probably even more interesting is that on Sunday last, I was under the
immpression we did have the annual semi or full on Fieldfare "thrush
push" at least in this neck of the woods, but am now beginning to wonder,
if it was only a secondary or semi (thrush push) and possibly we still have the
main one to come!! or would that be wishful thinking!

Simply the fact, that these birds already mentioned would without doubt be the
Sunday birds some of which I possibly did manage to see (in part), now being
held up at the very top of the "Lyth Valley". I would certainly have
expected that if it had been the main "thrush push" the birds would
have carried on to their final destinations (suggested to me by others at
various: From here to Stranraer, then crossing at the nearest part to Ireland,
then eventually loop around into Southern Europe, before making there way back
up into Northern Europe for the early Spring.... Is all this feasible!!

I think this mapping out of routes is probably one of the most difficult things
to work on, because most obviously, every valley and high ridge seems to be
used at various times, but does alter slightly according to the winds and
conditions, but even so, there are valleys and valleys, some of which hold the
most ancient of routes and if they could be linked, and a map of passage
corridors worked out would be great.

Monday October 25th 2010 -
Hutton Roof, Cumbria.

0700hrs - 1215hrs.

Wind: SW 4 - 5mph

Best yet for Woodpigeon, which
most of them went North West.

Redwing: 90 all W (best 50,30)

Fieldfare: 2040 75% went either
NW or N and others came back East. (Best: 100,25,100,100,120)

Today started quiet, but soon
became obvious around the 1000hrs that a "thrush push" was about to
start, with plenty of Fieldfare parties, yet no Redwing parties. Today I had to
be family chauffeur and entertain visitors, so sadly only caught a little of
the "push" from distant veins instead of the "main artery".
But grateful for what I did get and can't wait until tomorrow. They were still
going past my window at 1808hrs this evening.

Sandside, Nr. Milnthorpe
1000hrs-1130hrs (Was in Storth taking grandchild to his football, so decided to
check out a "ancient thrush route" I used to watch about 20 plus
years ago, and it did not let me down!!

Burton In Kendal, Cumbria.
(from my armchair, just looking out of the front window) 1400hrs-1808hrs. We
had company, so I had to try and take interest in them whilst at the same time
sneaking a look out the front!! and it was worth it!)

Wind: W8-10mph and freshening
to Northerlies. 0915 mist and light drizzle came in from East and encircled us
all around to West side as well, but cleared within 15 minutes. Again hard
work, birds undecided and messing, coming down feeding etc etc. Cant understand
early doors, birds were cutting to NW without any problem, so no problem with
winds, but yet they wer'nt keen on going, I think it may have something to do
with wind changing round to the North.

Fieldfare: 1088 (all eventually
NW - best: 300,110,200,100)

Redwing: 45 all NW

Chaffinch: 107 (32W all others
East)

Siskin: 14 East (one party 12)

Woodpigeon: 577SE (best:
80,120,50,50,50,50)

Alba Wagtail: 2 SW

Goldfinch: 3E

Starlings: 3000 plus ex roost
plus other score parties later

Redpoll: 2E

Greenfinch: 3W

Meadow Pipit 1SE.

Friday October 22nd 2010 -
Hutton Roof, Cumbria.

0715hrs-1100hrs

Wind: W 10-15mph and freshening
from SW

General Thrush move NW but also
some going in all directions, very patchy today. Thrushes again found it
extremely difficult to use their general routes because of the strong W/SW
winds and where seen at times to be "flattened" or hugging the
ground, and coming in through small gaps etc. Chaffinches now thinning and
Greenfinches starting to pick up.

Redwing: 65 (best 20,16,7 W and
some SE)

Fieldfare: 1383 (all NW, best
parties: 300,140,150,120, 90,60,60, still going through on leaving but patchy
and hard to find)

Blackbird: 3W

Chaffinch: 97 (41W all others
East best: 5s and 4s)

Greenfinch: 22 (all W, best:
6,6,4)

Woodpigeon: 3S

Siskin: 3S

Meadow Pipit: 2SE (Up here
they've become so scarce their now like goldust but better!!)

Long Tailed Tit: 13 party and
probably locals.

Starling: Missed the main ex
roost flock probably gone high but did have several small parties (eg: 50s or
20s)

Linnet: 1

Thr October 21st 2010 -
Hutton Roof, Cumbria.

0715hrs - 1130hrs

Wind: SW 8-10mph, freshening
all the time to SW 15-20mph

Thrushes very patchy, started
off OK and would have been good but for the strong winds. Most coming through
the gap which seems to come from around "Newbiggin Crags" (ex Lune
Valley) and then across Farleton/Holme Park, to NW. Also a party of 200 seen to
be "blocked" at what looked like Dalton/Priest Hutton area, and
making perhaps 30 or 40 attempts to carry on NW but being blown back every time
and eventually they would go back on themselves to a North in a loop over
Hutton Roof and down to Newbiggin before then coming up again and getting
through over Farleton/Holme Park Crags to the NW. I saw this happen several
times with different parties. Best party 600 Fieldfare.

A good passage of Redwing all low altitude 75-150ft, Mainly SW (unmarked) but
some parties NW (as shown)

Suddenly at approx 1530hours it just stopped, I think it was because the wind
had changed variable and everything went still, no mipits or chaffinch also,
everything went still and silent, however up until then:-

Tuesday October 12th 2010 -
Hutton Roof, Cumbria.0700hrs-1030hrs
Wind: NE 5-8mph
Early strong frost, and then blue skies, with again haze to West.

Redwings again all over the place, not sure which direction to take, also seen
to arrive and cascade onto Hutton Roof. In the main when they did decide they
tended to go South East, with just a few to the South West. There had obviously
been a fall of Dunnock during the night with lots calling from the bushes etc.

Redwing: 640 (24 larger parties and lots of small groups) all directions but
the bulk to a South East
Chaffinch: 253 (30W all others E) best parties: 12,10,10,7,7.
Alba Wagtail: 9 (mainly singles)
Meadow Pipit: 78 all East to South East (best parties: 15,6)
Redpoll: 2S
Starling: 600 at least from roost 0730hrs and then steady small squadrons going
East up to close.
Mistle Thrush: 22 all East (2,3,17)
Siskin: 4 (2,2)
Greenfinch: 3: (1SW and 2SE)
Goldfinch: 10 (best party 6)
Woodpigeon: 6 (5,1 all SW)
Great Spotted Woodpecker: 1E
Yellowhammer: 1

ALSO THIS INTERESTING "REDWING" CALL WAS HEARD YESTERDAY:

Yesterday whilst crossing over Hutton Roof from the Trig Point and coming down
to the corner before entering “Lancelot Storth” Where the boundary walls meet
up with another wall (and close to where the Cuckoo) is regularly seen. Well if
you follow the wall down from the corner (trig side) and then in a Dalton
direction you came across what I think may have been a very large “flattened
type” of Yew Tree and I looked across, with my attention being took upon this
rather weak, quiet softish single call not unlike “kwa” and when I looked
across to the Yew Tree and several nearby shrub type trees, there was lots of
Redwings, tusselling to get in this tree, whilst at the same time there where
others leaving the tree and going into nearby trees. All this tusselling and
josselling was going on for at least 15/20 minutes with this regular
intermittent “kwa” calls which was coming from the activity tree and also all
over the nearby trees in a 50 yard radious which all seemed to have tucked away
small “Redwing” parties, which also in turn were moving off and giving this
unusual contact call. In total I counted over 370 birds coming out of this tree
and nearby trees.

I cant remember ever having heard this soft “kwa” call before coming from
Redwing, it certainly is not a contact call we would generally hear in flight
but some sort of contact call to announce “lift off after roost”, It was as
though, they had possibly spent the day or most of the day at this daytime
roost site and it was now time to move on and so they made this special sort of
“contact” call to one another to say it was time to “lift off” and move on.
Just the odd bird made theirr usual “Tseerp call” whilst most offered the “kwa”
call.

I would welcome any information from others if they have ever heard it or seen
this sort of activity, especially at 1530hours (mid afternoon)…

Mon Oct 11th 2010 - Hutton
Roof, Cumbria.

0700hrs - 1030hrs

Wind: E 3-5mph

Very bright on this side with little cloud.

Wishing last nights "push" would have continued, but not
to be. Still good though.. First Fieldfares! Thrushes disorientated in the
early hour and going in all directions, some even dropping down (cascading)
onto the roof.. eventually after about one hour there did seem to start a path
from South to NNW with some regularity, but this soon fizzled out and by
0930hrs Thrushes had virtually finished. Lots of Siskin passing through and
Greenfinch now starting up.

Redwing: 1099 (38 main parties, best
parties:60,50,40,60,40,40,50,40,40,40,80,60) all directions, but mainly NNW

Decided to have a walk over Hutton Roof at 1800hrs and on reaching
the higher levels noticed that Redwings were pouring over, just how long they
had been going I dont know, they could have been going for most of the day for
all I know, but in 35 minutes from 1800 to 1835hours I had the following, all
going from SE to NW. Wind had calmed down to Easterly 5-8mph.

Today it was freshening wind straight from the word go and levelled out at
20mph which made it very cold. Most birds struggled, and there was very little
going West because of any tailwinds. Goldfinch where definately going for it
today here. I had four sample parties of Redwings, going in all Easterly
directions. One party of 9 was heading North and then blown back to SW.

Moved over to Hunting Hill, quite close to where I normally count, but some 400
yards South East as the crow flies. Without doubt this is the place to be for
mipits, I thought so yesterday when I noticed most where going over
"Hunting Hill". Well today it was nicely confirmed. They where still
coming in on a "broad front" and I noticed I was missing some large
parties going over South across the marsh to the West of me, but never the less
I am sure I was in the right place to "gather the vantage". Because
of the strongish winds it was "flattening them" and making them use
both sides of "Hunting Hill" rather than going directly over the top
of it, as they were doing yesterday. Lots were also going down alongside the
railway lines at Carnforth railway station to my East. Really good
"score" parties, but by about 0910hrs it was noticeably thinning
down. With just odd regular parties going through up until my close at 1030hrs.
Even then there where still good occasional parties of 10 to 20 plus going
through, even so late in a morning.

It really is great to be among the Mipits once again, and great to see they are
here on this side in reasonable numbers.

After leaving my watch I quickly called in at Warton Crag side to see if I could
see anything going over, nothing but perhaps a little windy today for Warton
sides. Nice to see Tony (Riden) (Knowl Hill), busy at work with a large working
party. I then went through the Yealands and across Nineteen Acre and past the
garage on the A6 turning right into Moss Lane. (Moss Lane- A6 side), this would
be the same alignment of the "pipit passage" we where talking about
yesterday which now looks very likely that this could well be the same path as
that going over "Hunting Hill". Sure enough Pipits where coming
through at this point (not a lot and just singles, but regular, every few
minutes) (after leaving A6 just after garage, turn on Moss Lane which leads to
Burton/Holme) and I parked in the first large passing place/not a place to park
on a regular basis!). You could more or less narrow the corridor down to the
third telegraph pole along this road after leaving the A6. And they where all
heading in the direction to the "Car Boot" field area.

Although the bulk of my count was from the Car Park just before the Marsh (to
the west side of the sewage works), it was quite obvious that although there is
a broad corridor South, which stretches at least one mile in width to my
knowledge and probably the farthest I could actually take in with my bins,
though 95% of the high concentration uses a corridor of some maybe only 100/150
yards wide, I have managed to narrow the path down after trying out several
sample watching stages along the Shore Road, and without doubt they are coming
in at the point almost where the small "car park is at the wooden
bridge" which crosses the Keer (SD 492714) and then they are going South
over "Hunting Hill" (SD491707), well what I mean is that they where
taking this routing this very morning, and I would rather suspect from other
past evidence on previous watches from Shore Road, that this could well be a
long established regular routing corridor, certainly in relation to Meadow
Pipits, Finches and Alba Wagtails. Using this routing from the
"Northerly" it would certainly miss out Leighton Moss and would
probably cross Warton Crag - most Easterly edge, and to the slight west side of
Yealand Conyers. Continuing with this routing it would possibly take in the
area I did mention yesterday near Hale. I will try and do further sampling
across this routing if at all possible, but anyday now I think it will be
necessary to revert back to "Hutton Roof" in readiness for the
"thrush movements"....

Robins calling from the nearby bushes, and a good mipit passage especially in
the first hour (0715hrs first bird to 0815hrs) then a downward fall on and almost
finished at 0900hrs with just the odd trickling after. Some excellent parties
of Mipits and it was so good to actually catch up with this great little
species once again (I have been getting "withdrawals" on the Mipits
since leaving Haslingden, but today was a bit like the old days!!!)

It looked a bit fogged out over on Hutton Roof and after reading about John's
fantastic Mipit count yesterday, I only had a couple of hours spare today so
decided to have a look at Shore Road (probably about one mile or so further
N/NW from Johns "Crag Bank" sight, to really see if I could make
anything of the Mipit routing.

Sadly the weather was against us, but even with heavy continual rain, there
where odd small parties still prepared to give it a shot!! and thankfully a few
Mipits came through (47 in fact) and the routing corridor seemed to come from
the back side of Leighton Moss and the West side of Warton Crags, which more or
less I suppose put them on a fairly South routing.

It does need far more investigation, and if the weather holds OK tomorrow or
Tuesday, I will try and get down there.

Although continuous heavy rain, there was still "midge plume" above
the car...

Bryan.

PS: Peter (Marsh - Heysham) et al, last week I was at a Car Boot Sale on the A6
about one mile South in the Carnforth direction from the Hale Garage and whilst
close to the back of the field, could hear Mipits going through regular, the
spot was SD507763, now then when I was at Shore Road this morning, they where
coming in a sort of direct North direction and straight over me, if you draw a
direct line from the point at which I stood and to that point near Hale its
almost direct and would certainly be worth far more investigation to try and
enlarge our probable "mipit" routing path. If you continued the line
further on in a North direction, the next main point would be at
"Holme".

Saturday October 2nd 2010-
Hutton Roof, Cumbria.

0700hrs - 0900hrs.

Wind: SE 2-5mph

Movement: Mipits: all SE others stated in count

Definite increase in Chaffinches today, just wish I could have
stayed a little longer. Odd Robins calling this morning also some LT Tits.

Chaffinch: 255 (61E all others SW) best parties: 12,10,9,9,9)

Meadow Pipit: 110 (best parties: 12,10,7,7)

Reed Bunting: 1 S (cant believe this is my first of the season!!)

Alba Wagtail: 15 (all South, best party 5)

Linnet: 9 (2E others S)

Redwing: 2E

Raven: 3S

Greenfinch: 6S

Starling: 82 (all E best party: 20,20,10,7)

Siskin: 2S

Goldfinch: 2 (1W 1S)

Great Spotted Woodpecker: 3 E (all singles)

Friday October 1st 2010-
Hutton Roof, Cumbria.

0700hrs - 0920hrs

Wind: SE 20mph with gust at 25/30mph

Cold, very light rain showers (heavy specking) at times.

All movement South - SE unless stated otherwise.

Just the odd Robin calling this morning, obviously yesterdays have
now moved on. Not much happening this morning with the strong winds etc.

Raven:6 (can't distinguish locals from movers)

Alba Wagtail: 9

Chaffinch: 74 (30 W all others E-SE, best parties:7,5,4,4,4)

Meadow Pipit: 39 all South (best parties: 8,6,5,5)

Starling: 84 all E

Greenfinch: 2S

Common Gull: 138 all E (probably locals going from roost to feed
inland)

Goldfinch: 6 (1W all others S)

Mistle Thrush: 1W

Redwing: 18 (One party of 15 SE at 0830 and one party of 3 W at
0905)

Thr Sept 30th 2010 - Hutton
Roof, Cumbria.

0715-0820hrs and then again 0930 - 1030hrs

Wind: SE 2-5 mph

Movement: South East unless specified different.

Again this morning quite a lot of Robins had obviously landed
throughout the night, along with one Chiffchaff and some suspected Blackbirds.
A small Skylark move happened around the 0930hrs. Also how suprised to have a
small Starling party actually going NW.

Meadow Pipits: 33

Chaffinch: 154 (70 in early hour/84 in late hour (best parties:
10,7,12. 26W all others SE)

Mistle Thrush: 14 (6,3,1,2 all West)

Starling: 27 (5,4,6,4,2, all East and 6W)

Alba Wagtail: 14

Cormorant: 2W

Goldfinch: 10S

Linnet: 5S

Siskin: 2S

Skylark: 14S (4,6,2,2)

Swallow: 4 (one party S)

BHG: 6 E (5,1)

Chiffchaff: 1 (singing from Hutton Roof)

Redwing: 10 (one party West - generally disorientated)

Raven: 2S

also 1 Wheatear near Timber Yard on Hutton Roof

Tuesday September 28th 2010
- Hutton Roof, Cumbria.

0645hrs-0900hrs

Wind: SE 8-10mph and decreasing

All Movement South East unless stated otherwise.

Full cloud cover, and low cloud thick to East above Lune Valley,
clear to West.

First thing on arrival, there were Robins singing at every bush,
certainly involved over a score.. Also noticed today especially that Starling
squadrons had started to go East, today they where very close to the ground
within a metre! difficult with these, although I do suspect they are
continental birds coming in (this is the strange direction they also take!, I
would find it difficult to separate from what maybe (but I doubt!) local birds
which have recently been collecting at the nearby (4mile away) sea shore. I
would also now suspect that the Leighton Moss starling roost will actually now
have started forming.. Had a super Siskin party of 25, just odd thrushes.

Meadow Pipits just completely quiet, did have a few in the first
ten minutes, then just one bird from 0730-0900hrs. although when I check out
last years we where still getting a couple of hundred by about the 5th October,
so where have they gone. I am beginning to wonder now whether those recent
Northerlies have cleared them out, I do know that on a couple of occasions this
year during these Northerlies that some birds where at high altitude, there was
also other small parties showing up as small "dots" in the far far
even higher altitudes, so whether they have been missed.... Or it maybe they
just havnt come yet!!

Very still, Cloudy but very clear to the West, and yet low cloud
over Ingleborough and the Lune Valley to the East. Very still sort of morning
with lots of Black Gnat flies and midge type flies present. (so still that it
was great for audible)

Highlights: 3 nice Redwing parties, a Snipe party, Mipits still
not going, the majority of the very few that where going through, where going
so high in altitude, that I probably missed lots, Good Chaffinch numbers, nice
15 alba Wagtail party.

Meadow Pipits: 51 all South East (best parties: 10)

Chaffinch: 198: (95% to South East, a few to the West) best
parties: 8s,7s,6s...

Alba Wagtail: 22 (one party 15) all South East

Redwing: 56 (8NE,8E, 40 NW)

Raven: 4 (3N, 1S) possibly local?

Mistle Thrush: 7 (5NE) 2NW

Starling: 7 (3,1,3 all East) probably continentals!

Goldfinch: 13 (One party 10)

Greenfinch: 2

Linnet: 2

Common Snipe: 5 (One party, first went out North East and then
returned 5 minutes later to SW)

Again today Meadow Pipits never really got going. Chaffinch where very
interesting with lots of large parties in the first hour or so, and also it was
noted that they where all going South East today, a direction they never go as
a rule. (Usually W or E). I probably missed some Redwing, on one occasion I
looked down over Burton and could see a large party of thrushes (maybe 20 or
30) messing about at the bottom end of Hutton Roof. I did think at the time
they where too small for Mistles, but rather dismissed them at the time, but
later speaking with Dave at Bradford, he informed me he had several Redwing
parties coming through, so now I rather think that that's what they may have
been. Odd small Starling parties (eg 5 or so) have in the past couple of days
started going East, these are probably early continental birds starting to come
in. (I know it seems funny going East and away from the Coast which is only
about 3-4 miles West, but thats the way they go here).

Reports of several parties of Redwing coming through this morning from Bradford
area heading North West.

Saturday September 25th 2010
- Hutton Roof Cumbria.

0645hrs-1000hrs

Wind: N 5-8 mph

Movement: All Pipits SE

Chaffs between SW in the main and NE

Started off with keen frost, waiting for ten minutes for
windscreen to clear. 0652 first birds, then a little burst and then just
steady, but Pipits seem to start proper in small parties at about 0900hrs and
died off by 0945hrs.

Meadow Pipits: 216

Chaffinch: 123

Mistle Thrush: 25 (One party NW)

Alba Wagtail: 5 (all singles)

Linnet: 14 (Singles or pairs all West)

Raven: 3 (South)

Goldfinch: 17 (10,5,2)

Siskin 2 (plus some missed audible only)

Greenfinch: 3

Stock Dove: 1NE

Great Spotted Woodpecker: 2 E

Swallow: 3 (2,1)

Cormorant: 2NE

Long Tailed Tits: 9 (one party- never at this territory as a
rule!)

LBBG: 4 NW (1 ad 3juv)

Grey Wagtail: 1 S

Skylark: 4 (2 at 0930 which went S and another 2 at approx 0945hrs
which came NW)

Really superb open panoramic views to its North, in fact reminded me very much
of my old stomping grounds at Haslingden, it had a lot of similaries in much of
its topography. Today was spoilt with strong Winds and speckly rain at times.
The Pipits did come through in small numbers all heading South and kept quite
rigid to a corridor of about 36 foot wide in the main, and most where flying
side on into the brisk NE wind. All where at high altitude, but some where so
high you could hardly see them, certainly at cloud base, so the probabilities
are that I missed lots. It really is a superb venue and I must get back next
week when hopefully the winds will have abaited. This place looks like it could
well be one of the main places on the west side for the Pipits. I would go
everyday if I could but its about 34 mile round trip for me, so for now in the
main I will stick with Hutton Roof, and try and get back just now and again.
Greeted by the first birds to be Siskin!

Wednesday September 22nd 2010.Barbondale - Above Gawthrop and Dent. (altitude of watchpoint
315 metres - Surrounded by Mountainous areas (approx Altitude of local
topography maximums to a 600 metres approx), with tapering altitudes at the
watchpoint (SD683865) with several converging hill/mountain ranges and valleys.
0800hrs - 1030hrs
Wind: SW 20mph (by about 0930 the wind seemed to change to a
more SW).
All movement West, South West or SSW.

Quickly becoming a favourite of mine! but so windy up there
today and very cold with it - even by 1000hrs.. Without doubt it was a little
too much for some of the large Chaffinch parties, which coming through the
incline and gap and trying to negotiate a direct South West movement (directly
into the wind), and gaining altitude would soon give up and return to a nearby
hawthorn tree, which at one time must have had scores of birds within it. They
would then within minutes make a second attempt, which some got through and
some didnt. Some I am sure found a alternative routing from within the many
valleys below. At one time I was willing the birds on and felt like shouting to
them "keep low and you will make it" (must be loosing it!!!), but no,
they just kept climbing and trying to fight the wind, until one bird would
repeatedly call and all the birds gave in and where then blown back into a sort
of semi-circle... No great records, but a steady flow with good numbered
parties. The Pipits had no problem getting through the wind, but their
direction to the South South West was probably a little kinder and it was clear
most of them where going side on into the side wind. Also noted they were
either in singles or pairs, no much going on in the way of parties!

Chaffinch: By far the main
mover. 161 (13 East all others W/SW) best parties: 13,9,6,6.

Meadow Pipit: 68 all SW (best
party6)

Chiffchaff: One calling from
Newbiggin.

Alba Wagtail: 7

Swallow: 20W

Redpoll: 3 (1W 2SW)

Goldfinch: 3,

Starling: 12E

Linnet: 8 (2,6)

Greenfinch: 2

Jay: 3 (Came of Hutton and went
NE then 10 mins later came back SW)

Its becoming obvious to me that
Hutton Roof is very limited in the movement of Meadow Pipits.

I have recently, been checking
out all over the place to get on a Meadow Pipit corridor and I am getting quite
a positive feeling about the place called NEWTON, which just runs alongside
Whittington to Arkholme. I was there this morning at 1020hrs and could only
spare ten minutes before having to shoot off to Capernwray, but just in that 10
minutes I had:

Chaffinch: 15 (4,2,2,2,2,3)

Meadow Pipit: 20 (2,14,4)

Alba Wagtail: 1

Sat Sept 18th 2010 - Hutton
Roof Cumbria.

0645hrs - 1000hrs

Wind: W 3mph

Heavy Rain showers at first
then OK from 0800hrs

Slight move at beginning then
tapered to almost nil by 0830hrs.

All South unless stated otherwise.

Meadow Pipit: 106

Chaffinch: 69 (mainly W)

Swallow: 31

Pink Footed Goose: 131 (0800hrs
skein of 50 came in from N/NE and went out over Hutton Roof to S/SW eg:
Morecambe Bay)

(0815hrs skein of 70 came in
from N/NE and went out far further South maybe Ribble Marshes) (0900hrs skein
of 11 again came in from N/NE and went out far further South maybe Ribble
Marshes).

Starling: 4E

Goldfinch: 11 (one party 10)

Linnet: 3

Alba Wagtail: 5

Mistle Thrush: 3

House Martin: 8 (one party)

Friday Sept 17th 2010 -
Hutton Roof

Wind: NE 8mph very cold,
0630hrs - 0800hrs

Chaffinch 93 (20E all others W)

Meadow Pipit: 58

Mistle Thrush: 3

Swallow: 28

Pink Footed Goose: 44 (one
skein at 0655, seen disorderly formation at low height, probably come off
estuary and climbing very high and formed orderly formation and then direction
out to North East.

Starling party toing and froing
from Stock Car track probably today in the 200 plus.

Lapwings today in the 50 plus

Little Egret: 1 Local to
estuary

Curlew: 1 Local to estuary

Whimbrel: heard calling from
estuary

Wednesday September 8th 2010

Shore Road, Carnforth, Lancs.

1200hrs-1400hrs

Wind: change over to
Light/variable westerlies

Movement: South unless stated
otherwise.

Very late in the morning, yet
still Swallows going through in nice parties. Went quiet from 1400hrs. Nice to
see changeover to light Westerlies and this took the Swallows South West
(instead of the E or ENE we have been getting in the last couple of days)

Swallow: 731 (best parties:
77,55,36,35,28 etc) all SW.

House Martin: 12

Sand Martin: 1

Linnet: 3 singles SW plus 10
blogging party on marsh.

Meadow Pipit: 8 (2,1,1,1,1,1,1)
all SW

Goldfinch: 9 (all NW)

Skylark: 2 SW

Cormorant: 3 2+1 local

Pied Wagtail: 5 (2W all others
SW)

Chaffinch: 1W.

Tuesday September 7th 2010 -
Vismig at Shore Lane, Carnforth, Lancashire and later at Havelock near
Capernwray.

Couldnt get there early because
of appointment, but did manage 1000hrs to 1200hrs.

Decided to check out Shore
Road, Carnforth, and the Swallows were pouring through and still going through
strong on leaving.

Continually going through East
to East North East, because the winds were very strong and coming from the ESE
at 21mph to gust at 39 mph the birds where very low, some as low as one metre
from the ground, but most of them anywhere up to about 20 metre. They seemed to
be coming around the coastline from the Bolton Le Sands direction and then
curving round at the Keer and heading East to ENE. the largest single parties
was 40.

Swallows: 695 birds in total
over the 2 hours.Best parties: 40,37,32,30,25,25,25,27 Also

House Martins: 20 birds
(3,10,2,5)

Meadow Pipits: 19 (mainly
single birds, best party 4)

Linnet: 27 (one party at 8 and
15)

Pied Wagtail: 1

Pintail: 2 (estuary then South)

Greenfinch: 1

Lapwing: 1

also:

40 blogging Starling party
(prob local_

20 blogging Lapwing probably
local.

Sat 28th August 2010

0630hrs-1000hrs.

Heavy Showers intermittent.

Wind: NW 8-10 mph.

Although I dont expect to start
vis-migging proper until around the middle of September. Today was the National
Big Vis Mig weekend, so I decided to do a short count up at Hutton Roof.

It was quite early when I had
two small waders come in fast from the East heading SW. I am 90% sure they
where Knot. About 0800hrs I had 3 Comic Terns again heading out West, and one
Common Snipe heading out SW.

Other stuff this morning was:

Chaffinch 19 (mainly South but
4E)

Goldfinch: 20 (2SE all others
W)

Linnet: 3W

Reed Bunting: 1S

Meadow Pipit 5SE and also 20
blogging on Farleton Side.

Greenfinch: 2W

Swallow: 68 (best party 20)
mainly going out SE

Comic Tern: 3W

Common Snipe: 1SW

Wader species possible Knot 2W.

Raven 4SE probably local

Buzzard 2S probably local

Woodpigeon 4W probably local

Mistle Thrush: 2 probably
local.

(also in conversation with
"local keepers wife": She said here husband had seen in recent times
up to 20 Yellowhammers coming out of mixed crop planted area (put purposely for
pheasant rough)in the Clawthorpe area - Hutton Roof side.) they are very well
up on their birding id's...)

Facebook and Twitter

Or better still I have now created a facebook page dedicated to run alongside the "I Love Arnside and Silverdale Blog". The page has been set up so that I can keep regular Notices of current blogs on the site which I will try and do by linking across. Occasionally I will also put on old blogs that may bear relation to current topics etc, also one of the main advantages is so that members can participate and comment and add information themselves should they so wish.

Vismig - Visible Migration (Birds)

For almost 30 years I have been interested in bird migration and have each year, especially in Autumn done vismig counts of moving birds through our Area. Up until recently I was counting down at Haslingden in Rossendale and more recently I have been enjoying counting at Hutton Roof (accessed from Clawthorpe) and closeby to my new home in Burton In Kendal.

If you are further interested in vismig and want to check out the "vismig" site then click here.

The authorative vismig record site is Trektellen which offers full reports from the UK and also all over Europe click here.

"Redwings to the left of me, Fieldfares to the right..." - If you would like to read the recent vismig article by Clive McKay and recently published in Birdguides, then click here. (local records mentioned)....

Followers

Autumnwatch 2014

Media

If you want to check out my time on BBC Autumnwatch Extra at Leighton Moss 2014 with Brett Westwood Please Click Here (Film is for approx 20 mins duration)

If you want to check out my time on BBC Autumnwatch Extra at Leighton Moss 2013 with Euan Mcilwraith Please Click Here (Film is for approx 20 mins duration)

If you want to check out my time on BBC News for the finding of the rare Holly Fern after 56 years, with Beccy Meehan Please Click Here (Film is for approx 1min 20seconds)

A lovely film showing both of the rare Holly Ferns which was made and given to me as a gift by my good friend Brian Gomm of Kendal. Please click here to check it out. (Film is for approx 6 mins duration)

If you want to check out the Great Grey Shrike film in Dalton Crags. Made by Fraser and guess what! I do seem to recognise the owd chap at the beginning. Please click here.

Fraser also made another short film about the Great Grey Shrike Part 2 in Dalton/Hutton Roof. Shows the Shrike actually impaling a lizard. Please click here

Scotch Argus

Arnside Knott 6th Aug 2009

Autumn Leaves

Dalton 5th Nov 2010

Smoked Sunbeams

Arnside Knott - 31st Aug 2010

Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary

Warton Crag 3rd July 2009

Marsh Helliborine

Carnforth 6th July 2011.

Items for Sale

Grasses, Ferns, Mosses & Lichens by Roger Phillips - A well used book but still a good reference, please contact me for further details. Good price for this much wanted book even in this condition £9.99 local delivery only.

Other Books for sale

From Fell and Field - A History of the Westmorland County Show 1799-1999 - Roger Bingham - Cicerone Paperback - Very Clean £8

The flowering plants and ferns of North Lancashire by L.A. & P.D. Livermore. Excellent reference and a very clean copy. For sale at £20 buyer collect or arrange delivery.

New Naturalist 1-10 Facsimile Collection - In NEW condition and a real bargain at £250 (Normal £500-750). Please note I do only have the one set available. Buyer Collect or maybe could deliver if local. Please contact me for further details.

Simpson's Flora Of Suffolk (Suffolk Naturalist Society) 537 page hardback, used but in good average condition. A bargain at £6.99.

Falconry & Hawking by Philip Glasier (third edition), A hardback of 352 pages in excellent condition. A bargain at £20.00

RHS Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers. Very large hardback with 744 pages, used but in excellent condition. £35 on issue, my price £9.99. Buyer collect on may be able to do local delivery only

Wainwright - In The Valleys Of Lakeland. His last book. Used but clean hardback 216 pages. My price £4.99. buyer collect or maybe local delivery only

Great Feedback:

Shiela Newton (Newcastle)16th Aug 2011

I was researching Stock Ghyll Force, Ambleside – and I googled a link to your blog. I just had to write and say – WOW! Thanks for sharing all your wonderful knowledge – and your love of the countryside.

from Kate Schofield. 1st April 2012 I Just wanted to tell you how much I'm enjoying your blog! I stumbled on it while googling Hale Moss and now I'm hooked and keep returning! I buy from farms in Arnside, Silverdale & Yealand Conyers, but dont get to spend as much time in the area as I would like. I'm finding your blog NEARLY as good as being there. Kind Regards, Kate Schofield.

Geoff E (Lancaster) 13th April 2012 Hi Bryan, Just wanted to send my greetings and thanks for such wonderful springtime offerings on your blogs which I can't tell you how much they are appreciated. I check them almost daily and never fail to wonder at your dedication and knowledge of wildlife. Take care..... you are a wonder.... and keep up the good work. Best wishes Geoff.

Mo Richards - 25th March 2014 Hi Bryan,

Felt it was about time to say how enjoyable your blog is, its not fair to go on looking at it without sending an appreciation.

Thought you might like to know that the Flora of Cumbria Indoor meet last Saturday, Geoffrey Halliday said that your refind of the Holly Fern on Hutton Roof last year was the highlight of the Cumbria botanical year.